LINGUIST List 8.1712

Fri Nov 28 1997

Qs: Women's Lang., Red & Yellow, Editors

Editor for this issue: Elaine Halleck <elainelinguistlist.org>

We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was
instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we
would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.

Dear Linguists,
I have an undergraduate student who is working on her
graduation paper about the use of women's language in English.
Could you answer the following questions and help her write the
paper? Please answer me directly and make comments, if any. I
will have her post a summary soon.
- ------------------------------------------------
(i) Please choose the best expression between the two/three
phrases below. Which do you use off-handedly, in everyday
conversation? If possible, I'd like to know if you are male or female.
Please check * mark from which you choose. If you have any
comments, please don't hesitate to mae them.
I'm male/felmale.
(1) A: I have two tickets for the movie "Air Force One." Do you have
time on Saturday?
B: Yes, I'd {( )love / ( )like} to.
(2) a. Everyone has {( )his/( )his or her/( )their} off days.
b. Someone knocked at the door but {( )he/( )he oe she/(
)they} had gone when I got downstairs.
(ii) The following examples are from the real, quoted examples. Do
you think that "sort of" in (1) and (2), and "isn't it" in (3) are
spoken by women?
(1) A: What was the nature of your aquantance with the late Mrs.
E.D?
B: Well, we were, uh, very close friends. Uh, she was even
"sort of" like a mother to me.
Your guess and comments:
(2) A: you know what? Arbitrage has put out this, "sort of"
_Introduction To_ tape for the business schools. Why don't we put
it in, and if you have any questions...
B: That would be great, thanks.
Your guess and comments:
(3) A: David? Is his name David?
B: Yes, it is.
A: That's funny. My name's David, too.
B: Tha is funny, "isn't it"?
Your guess and comments:
- -------------------------------------------------
Thanks a lot in advance. Please mail me directly.
Best wishes,
Hiroaki Tanaka
Associate Professor
Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Tokushima University, Japan
1-1, Minamijousanjioma,
Tokushima, 770,
Japan
phone & fax: +81 886 56 7125
e-mail: hiro-tias.tokushima-u.ac.jp

Dear Linguists,
I have an undergraduate student who is working on her
graduation paper about the use of the image of "red" and "yellow"
in English. Could you answer the following questions and help her
write the paper? Please answer me directly and make comments,
if any. I will have her post a summary soon.
- ------------------------------------------------
(1) When you hear the word "red", what do you
imagine/associate? Plese choose the appropriate words(the words
you can think up of) among the following words? Please check *
mark in the brackets. If you can think up of something other than
the words listed below, plaese write them below.
( )pure / ( )completely, absolutely / ( )sensational /
( )the sun / ( )deficit / ( )communism / ( )danger /
( )stop / ( )happy / ( )good luck / ( )anger /
( )old and new / ( )drug / ( )fire
Other words:
(2) When you hear the word "yellow", what do you
imagine/associate? Plese choose the appropriate words(the words
you can think up of) among the following words? Please check *
mark in the brackets. If you can think up of something other than
the words listed below, plaese write them below.
( )inexperienced / ( )attention /( )a star / ( )the moon /
( )fire / ( )cowardice / ( )sensational / ( )boring, dull /
( )the sun / ( )old age
Other words:
(3) I'd like to ask you the color of the sun and the moon. What do
you think is the color of the sun and the moon in English?
- ----------------------------------------------
Thanks a lot in advance. Please mail me directly.
Best wishes,
Hiroaki Tanaka
Associate Professor
Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Tokushima University, Japan
1-1, Minamijousanjioma,
Tokushima, 770,
Japan
phone & fax: +81 886 56 7125
e-mail: hiro-tias.tokushima-u.ac.jp